Apparatus for treating fabrics



Oct. 27, 1931. J. FlscH I 1,828, 93

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nagngfi W W QM Oct. 27, 1931. J. FISCH I 1,828,893

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FABRICS V Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2|IHIIIIWJ T|1IlIIIIHIIIII I illlllllllllllllllllllllllll Patented Oct.27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB FISCH, OF WATTW'IL,SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOB TO BEBE-KLEIN PATENT COR- PORATION, OF NEW YORK,N. Y;

A (DBPORATION' OF NEW YORK APPARATUS TREATING FABRICS Application filedNovember 80, 1985. Serial No. 70,415.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating fabrics.

An object of the invention is to provide efficient and durable apparatusfor treating the fabrics.

Processes for the treatment of fabrics with certain chemicals orreagents at certain desiredtemperatures are known. In such processes itis important to keep the temperature of the reagent acting upon thefabric within certain narrow temperature limits.

This invention is of particular value in connection with such processes,as one of will insure that all portions of the reagent while acting uponthe goods are maintained at substantially the same temperature.

I have found that greatly improved results may be obtained by not onlymaintaining the temperature of the body of the reagent constant, butalso by keeping the fabricbelow the liquid level of the reagentthroughout substantially the entire period during which the reagent isacting upon the fabric, as this insures a more uniform temperature ofall portions :of the reagents acting on the fabric substantiallythroughout the period in which it is acting.

Further objects of the invention will more fully appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsillustrating, by way of example,

the preferred embodiment of the apparatus used in carrying out theprocess.

The invention consists in the novel features, arrangement, constructionand combination of parts of the apparatus and means hereinafterdescribed in accordance with certain preferred embodiments thereof, andthe invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with certain parts brokenaway, and i Fig. 2 is a plan view of theapparatus with certain partsbroken away. I Y 1 Apparatus its" objects is the provision of apparatuswhich vwhich are used. In the present embodiment,

this lining 4 is constructed of wood, to withstand caustic alkali, andas shown in Fig. 1

is formedof groove and tongue boards. The top of the tank is providedwith sections, such for example as 5 (Fig. 2), which are hinged to rigidportions of the top such as 6 and these sections are provided withsuit-- able handles 7 by which they may be opened in order to inspectparts of the ap aratus within the tank. The entire top of t e tank isconstructed in a manner similar to that employed in the construction ofthe sides, bottom and ends of the tank,-i. e. an outer layer of metaland inner lining of wood and a layer of asbestos between the inner andouter lining. The tank so formed is watertight, is thermally insulated,and is adapted to be filled with chemicals or reagents in solution formwhich in the present embodiment is a caustic alkali, such for example ascaustic soda, for treating the fabric.

Suitable power driven rolls such as the cylindrical rolls 8, 9, 10,11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, preferably provided with rubbersurfaces, are mounted within the tank adjacent the bottom thereof andare supported in suitable bearings. One end of the axle of each of theserolls, with the exception drive engaging portion or each of said rolls."Each of these bevelled gears 20 is in mesh with a cooperating drivingpinion 21. Driving pinions 21 are fastened to driving shaft 22 extendinglongitudinally of the tank and supported on suitable bearings 23. Abevel 'gear' 24 is attached to this shaft 22 adjacent t-he right handend thereof and is in mesh-with a driving bevelled gear 25 attached tothe shaft 26, which is supported in suitable bearings and which'isprovided with a driving pulley 27, by means of which suitable motivemeans may be applied through the intermediary of a pulley belt tothereby rotate the power driven rolls. The roll 18 is driven from roll16 in the following manner: a sprocket 28 is attached to the roll 16 andcarries a driving chain 29 which engages a sprocket 30 carried by theroll 18. The roll 19 is driven in a similar manner by means of asprocket 31 carried at the end of the roll 17 adjacent to the front ofthe apparatus and engaging a chain 32 which also engages a sprocket 33carried by the roll 19 at the end adjacent the front of the machine. Itwill therefore be seen that when the machine is in operation, the rolls8 to 19 inclusive are rotated by suitable motive means applied to thepulley 27. The direction of rotation of each of the rolls of this seriesis the same, and is in an anticlockwise direction with reference to Fig.1.

A series of friction rolls 34, 35, 36, 37, 3 8, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and44 are supported by the power driven rolls; each of the friction rollsbeing supported by two of the power rolls. The friction rolls arepreferably cylindrical in form and are in the form of metal pipes openat the ends and of comparatively thick walls. Both the power drivenrolls and the friction rolls are positioned in the tank at a point belowthe liquid level of the tank. By this I mean that the treating solutlonin the tank is maintained at such a level that the power driven rollsand the friction rolls will be substantially submerged.

An idle roll 45 is mounted adjacent the left hand end of the tank on anextension of the frame 1. A plurality of Mycock rolls designated as 46are mounted on an extension of the frame 1 adjacent the idle roll 45between the idle roll 45 and the'tank. A roll 47 is mounted within thetank adjacent the top of the power driven roll 8.

A similar roll 48 is mounted within the tank at the right hand endthereof adjacent the power driven roll 19.

A foulard of the type well known to those skilled in the art is mountedadjacent the right hand end of the tank and carries the usual rolls 49and 50. The foulard is operated by suitable motive means applied to .thepulley 51 2).

An open top tank 52 is provided adjacent the right hand side of thefoulard machine and idle rolls 53, 54, 55 and 56 are supported by thistank in suitable bearings.

Suitable means is provided for maintainsystem such as is wellknown tothose skilled n the art.

l Operation The insulated tank is filled with the liquid reagentdesired, for example according to one use of the invention a causticalkali of a strength of at least 15 Baum, to a level which willsubstantially cover the top of the friction rolls. The refrigeratingapparatus s now put into operation to bring the treating solution, i. e.the caustic alkali, to and maintain it at the desired temperature; whichtemperature is substantially maintained throu bout the treatment. Forexample, if the fa ric is to be treated to produce a linen like effectaccording to Patent No. 1,439,519, the caustic alkali may be of astrength of 30 Baum and maintained at a temperature of about minus 10 C.a

For such treatment the fabric to be treated is started through themachine by means of a web in the manner well understood by those skilledin the art. The fabric passes below and around the roll 45 and'throughthe cock rolls 46, which stretch the fabric transversely, thence aroundthe roll 47 around and beneath the roll 8, up over the friction roll 34,down and beneath the roll 9, and so on alternately between one of thepower driven rolls and one of the friction rolls, around one of thefriction rolls and so on until the fabric has passed around eachrespective roll of both series of rolls. In this way the fabric is notonly firmly held against the power driven rolls and the friction rolls,but also acts to drive the friction rolls as the fabric is moved throughthe machine by the power driven rolls. The speed of the fabric in suchtreatment is timed so that it is immersed in caustic alkali for say oneto two minutes. The fabric is then passed over the roll 48 and thenceout of the treating tank and up between the rolls 49 and 50 of thefoulard. From this point the fabric may be passed down into the tank 52which may contain a washing solution such as water. The fabric passesbeneath roll 53, over roll 54, beneaththe roll 55, over the roll 56, andthence out of the machine.

It will therefore be seen that the .fabric is first stretchedtransversely or laterally, thence it is passed into the treatingsolution which is maintained at substantially a con. stant, relativelylow temperature and the fabric is held in a transversely stretchedcondition and it is passed at a uniform predetermined rate of speedthrough the treating solution or reagent beneath the liquid evel thereofduring substantially the entire period that it is sub ected to thecaustic alkali or other reagent and is then assed out through thefoulard. From the oulard the fabric may be passed through the tank 52where it may be additionally treated or washed according to the finishdesired- According to this method and apparatus,

all parts of the fabric which are being acted u on by the reagent areimmersed in the body of the reagent so as to insure all portions of thereagent that are acting upon the fabric being maintained at the desiredtemperature 20. ofthe body of the reagent, the temperature of which iscontrolled. 7

While I have described my invention in connection with the use of acaustic alkali, such for example as caustic soda, at a partic-' ular lowtemperature, it is to be understood that the invention is useful in anycase where it is desired to have any reagent act upon the fabric withinsome particular narrow range of temperature limits, and particularlywhere this range is substantially above or below room temperature.

Having thus described my invention 1n detail in its presentpreferredembodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art,after understanding my invention, that various chan es and modificationsmay be made therein WlfilOllt departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all suchmodifications and changes. What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is I 1. In apparatus for treating fabric, the

combination of a tank for holdin a liquid reagent, a plurality of powerdriven rolls supported in said tank adjacent the bottom thereof, aplurality of hollow, cylindrical, open-end friction rolls supported ythe peripheries of said power drlven rolls and hav- 1 ing substantiallytheir entire peripheries below the top of said tank, and motive meansfor rotating said ower driven rolls, whereby with said liquid reagentpresent in said tank and when said fabric is fed between 65 said powerdriven rolls and said friction rolls said friction rolls and said powerdriven rolls will be rotated simultaneously and said fabric movedthrough said liquid.

2. In apparatus for treating fabric,'- the combination of a thermallyinsulated tank for holding a liquid rea out at a substantiallypredetermined leve means for maintainlng the reagent at substantially aconstant relativel low temperature, means for stretching sai fabriclaterally before treatment, and means in said tank for holding saidfabric in stretched condition andfor movi said fabric through the saidreagent in sai .tank below the level at which said liquid. is

ada ted to maintained during substantially t e entire period of suchtreatment with Said reagent.

3; In apparatus for treating fabric, the

to be maintained during su stantially the.

entire period of such treatment with said reagent. 3

4. In apparatus for treating fabric, the combination of a'thermallyinsulated tank for holding a liquid reagent, means for maintaining saidreagent at substantially a constant relativelylow temperature, a seriesof power driven rolls and a series of friction rolls mounted in'saidtank with the rolls of one series mounted abovev the rolls of the otherseries in such arrangement that the rolls of one series alternate withthe rolls of the other series and are adapted to hold said fabric inintimate contact therebetween, the peripheries of said u per series. ofrolls being substant ally entirely below the top of said tank, andmotive means for driving said rolls at substantially a uniform rate ofspeed, whereby when said fabric is fed between said power driven rollsand said fricti on rolls, said friction rolls will be rotatedsimultaneously with said power driven rolls andsaid fabric will be movedthrough said liquid, and will be maintained below the top of said tankduring substantially the entire perlod of such treatment with saidliquid.

'5. In apparatus fortreating fabric, t e combination of a thermallyinsulated tan for holding a treating solution, means for maintaining thetreating solution at substantially a constant relatively lowtemperature, a series of power driven rolls mounted within said tankadjacent the bottom thereof and supported on suitable bearings and eachpro vided with drive engaging portions, motive means exteriorly of saidtank and geared to said rolls for driving said rolls at substantially auniform rate of speed, and a series of hollow cylindrical open-endfriction rolls whose peripheries are substantially entirely below thetop ofsaid tank and which are supported by said power driven rolls andadapted to hold said fabric in intimate contact with said power drivenrolls and adapted to be partially surrounded by said-fabric, wherebysaid fabric will have continuous surface contact with the rolls of bothseries and will be moved through said solution in said tank duringsubstantially the entire period of such treatment with said solution.

6. In apparatus for treating fabric, the combination of a thermallyinsulated tank for holding a liquid reagent at substantially apredetermined level and under a substantially constant temperature, aplurality of power driven rolls supported in said tank below the levelat which said reagent isadapted to be maintained, a plurality of hollowcylindrical open end friction rolls supported by the peripheries of saidpower driven rolls and having their peripheries disposed substantiallybelow said level, and motive means for rotating said power driven rolls,whereby when said fabric is fed between said power driven rolls and saidfriction rolls said friction rolls will be rotated simultane-- ouslywith said power driven rolls and said fabric will be moved through saidliquid and thereby maintained at a relatively constant temperature.

7. In apparatus for treating a fabric web, the combination with meansfor laterally stretching said. web, of a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing the laterally stretched web from saidfirst named means and then through the reagent in said tank below thelevel at which said reagent is adapted to be maintained, said secondnamed means maintaining said web in substantially its laterallystretched condition while passing' through said reagent. I

8. In apparatus for treating a fabric web, the combination with meansfor laterally stretching said web, of a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing the laterally stretched web from saidfirst named means and then through the reagent in said tank below thelevel at which said reagent is adapted to be maintained, said secondnamed means maintaining said web in substantially its laterallystretched condition while passing through said reagent and comprisingdriven and idler rolls having substantially smooth and even faces.

9. In apparatus for treating a fabric web, the combination with meansfor laterally stretching said web, of a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing the laterally stretched web from saidfirst named means and then through the reagent in said tank below thelevel at which said reagent is adapted to be maintained, said meanscomprising coacting roll structure operating substantially below saidlevel of said reagent.

10. In apparatus for treating a. fabric web, the combination with meansfor laterally stretching said web, of a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing the laterally stretched web from saidfirst named means and then through the reagent in said tank below thelevel at which said reagent is adapted to be maintained, said secondnamed means maintaining said Web in substantially its laterallystretched condition while passing throughsaid reagent and comprisingdriven and idler rolls operating substantially below saidlevel of saidby adjacent driven rolls, the exterior surfaces of said driven rollscomprising resilient material,

13. In apparatus for treating a fabric Web, a. tank, means for passingsaid web through said tank, said'means comprising driven rolls in saidtank and disposed in side-by-side relation, and idler rolls in saidtank, each idler roll being supported solely by adjacent driven rolls,said idler rolls being hollow and open at their ends.

14. In apparatus for treating a fabric web, a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing said Web through said tank, said meanscomprising coacting driven and idler roll structure operatingsubstantially below the level at which said reagent is adapted to bemaintained in said tank.

15. In apparatus for treating a fabric Web, a tank containing a liquidreagent, and means for passing said web through said tank, said meanscomprising coacting driven and idler roll structure operatingsubstantially below the level at which said reagent is adapted to bemaintained in said tank, the exterior surfaces of the rolls of saiddriven roll structure comprising resilient material.

16. In apparatus for treating a fabric web, a tank containing a liquidreagent, and

means for passing said web through said tank, said means comprisingco'acting driven and idle roll structure operating substantially belowthe level at which said reagent is adapted to be maintained in saidtank,

the rolls of said idler roll structure being hollow and open at theirends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JACOB FISCH.

